The Un-Official Pirate Dictionary

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

A•hoy'	{interjection}	Synonym for "Yo!" Commonly followed by "matey"
Arg!	{interjection}	What pirates say while pillaging and plundering to show they are serious and this is not just a weekend thing.
boo'•ty	{noun}	Treasure, coins, paintings of homeless children with really big eyes. Pirates would amass a chest full and then rattle it around; hence the term, "shake one's booty."
buc•can•eer'	{noun}	Price of corn at fancy gourmet food store.
Gar!	{interjection}	Var. of "Arg!"
Jol'•ly Rog'•er	{proper noun}	Generic name for the famous skull and crossbones flag. When feeling whimsical, Pirates would sometimes call it "the old flaggy waggy."
kra'•ken	{noun}	A large, tentacled sea monster of Pirate lore. Most historians believe the Kraken legend developed from sightings of giant squid. That most scientists believe this hogwash is a testament to the Kraken's savvy disinformation campaign.
land'•lub•ber	{noun}	Lover of land, or land-lover. Holding a knife between one's teeth for too long can create this speech impediment. Pirates call a hovercraft a "hubbercraft." To them cover girls are "cubber girls." Joke that takes it to the next humor plateau.
loot'•ing	{noun}	Kind of like window shopping, but all the windows are smashed to bits when you arrive.
mate'•y	{noun}	Assistant to the captain. As in, "Yes, this is the Captain's matey. May I tell the Captain what this is regarding?"
miz'•zen•mast	{noun}	The mast at the back of a ship. Since these types of sails are actually sails which are (usually) permanently hoisted, saying "Hoist the mizzenmast" can be looked at as either a surprisingly poetic usage or as just plain wrong.
par•rot	{noun}	Intelligent, willful bird native to tropical regions and a favored companion of pirates. The bird's apparent power of speech is actually only mimicry. The bird has no idea what words mean, and it does not appreciate that words can sometimes hurt.
Pie'•ces of Eight	pro-{noun}	More than pieces of seven, less than pieces of nine.
pil'•lag•ing	verb	Kind of like looting, but the shopkeeper is watching from behind some hastily contrived shelter.
Shiv'•er me tim'•bers!	{interjection}	Some pirate heard this on TV and thought it sounded cool.
sea' dog	{noun}	An epithet originally derisive in usage, but lately appropriated as a badge of honor by advocates of pirate pride.
swab'•bie	{noun}	An affectionate term for the hapless crewmember charged with mopping, or "swabbing," the decks. This term of endearment is the only bright spot in the otherwise dreary and demeaning life.
walk'•ing the plank	{phrase}	Kind of like being on the diving team, but without the endorsement opportunities.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

For all you Seafaring Posers out there)

---

The first word listed is the correct English term,
followed by it's definition.
 

The Term			The Definition
Avast Ye!			A hailing phrase to indicate that the hailed must "stop" and give attention.
Bilge			The lowest part inside the ship, within the hull itself. If any place on the ship was going to be dank and musty, the bilge was such a place. It was the first place to show signs of leakage and was often considered the most filthy, dead space of a ship. Hence, a "bilge rat" is a creature considered most lowly by a pirate. Though, many a pirate found himself eating those same rats to survive!
Black Spot			Tipping the black spot was a way pirates gave a death threat. As in the Novel, Treasure Island, a paper was marked with a black smudge on one side and often a message on the other to make the threat specific.
Bowsprit			the furthest front of the ship is the bowsprit. It is usually used as a lead connection for a smaller navigational sail. It was from the bowsprit that Blackbeard's head was hung as a trophy.
Broadside			A general term for the vantage on another ship of absolute perpendicular to the direction it is going. To get along broadside a ship was to take it at a very vulnerable angle. This is of course, the largest dimension of a ship and is easiest to attack with larger arms. A "Broadside" has come to indicate a hit with a cannon or similar attack right in the main part of the ship.
Buccaneer			Originally a term for those privateers who fought against the Spanish, later a general term for pirates of the Atlantic, specifically the Caribbean. The buccaneers were first hunters of pigs and cattle on the island of Hispaniola, but were driven off by the Spanish and turned to piracy. Buccaneers were said to be heavy drinking, cruel Pyrates.
Careen			To careen a ship is to take it into shallower waters or out of the water altogether and to remove barnacles and pests from the bottom. Pests include mollusks (worms), shells, and plant growth. Often a pirate needed to careen his ship to restore it to proper speed. Also, careening was dangerous to pirates as it left the ship inoperable while the work was being done. .
Come About			To bring the ship full way around in the wind. Used in general while sailing into the wind, but also used to indicate a swing back into the enemy in combat. .
Corsair			This term was used for Christian and Muslim privateers in the Mediterranean between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Barbary corsairs centered on North African states and were often "hired" by Muslim nations to attack Christian ships. The Christian Corsairs were known as the Maltese corsairs and they took their orders from the Knights of St. John to attack the Turks. .
Davy Jones's Locker			A fictional place at the bottom of the ocean. In short; A term meaning death. Davey Jones was said to sink every ship he ever over took, and thus, the watery grave that awaited all who were sunk by him was given his name. To die at sea is to go to "Davey Jones's Locker". .
Fo'c's'le			This is a term used for the Forecastle or front most part of the ship. This area is usually under the front deck and above the lower deck. .
Gunwales			The "sides" of the top deck. These "walls" were the only thing keeping things on deck from sliding into the water. Of course, these railings and walls had openings for the heavy arms or guns. .
Jolly Boat			A light boat carried at the stern of a larger sailing ship. This (probably) Danish Yawl (jol), proved better at high sea when a larger ship could hardly carry any sail. .
Jury Mast			A temporary or makeshift mast erected on a sea vessel after the mainmast has been destroyed. Often, in combat, the mast was the most damaged (providing the ship didn't sink). Without the mast, a ship was powerless, so a term grew out of the need to make masts to power damaged ships. .
Keel Haul			Another term made famous by pirates. This is the act of throwing a man overboard, tied to a rope that goes beneath the ship, and then dragging him from one side to the other and hauling him out. Besides the torment of being dragged under water, this would drag the victim across the barnacle studded ship's hull and cause great pain and injury. This was a serious punishment and not administered lightly. .
Landlubber			A term given to one fond of land as opposed to sea. The terms doesn't derive from "land lover" but rather from the root of "lubber" which means clumsy or uncoordinated. Thus, a landlubber is one who is awkward at sea for familiarity with the land. Of course, this terms was used to insult the abilities of one at sea. .
Letter of Marque			A document given to a sailor (privateer) giving him amnesty from piracy laws as long as the ships plundered were of an enemy nation. A large portion of the pirates began as privateers, with this symbol of legitimacy. Still, the earnings of a privateer were significantly better than any given a soldier at sea in any Navy. .
Long Boat			The largest boat carried by another ship. This was used to move larger loads, often anchors, chains, or ropes. In the case of pirates, the longboats were used to transport the bulk of heavier treasures. .
Long Clothes			Long clothes were a style of clothing best suited to land. A pirate, or any sailor, didn't have the luxury of wearing anything loose that might get in the way while climbing up riggings. Landsmen, by contrast, could adorn themselves with baggy pants, coats, and stockings. .
Mizzen			A term referring to the stern most mast on a three-masted vessel that supported a  triangular shaped sail, called the Mizzen Sail.  A vessel with less than three masts would have no mizzenmast at all.
Pirate			A robber at sea. Any act of theft while on the oceans is pyracy in the most general sense. .
Poop Deck			The deck at the furthest back of a ship. Usually above the captain's quarters, the poop deck was usually the highest deck of the ship
Privateer			A privateer is a sailor with a "letter of Marque" from a government. This letter "allows" the sailor to plunder any ship of a given enemy nation. Technically a privateer was a self employed soldier paid only by what he plundered from an enemy. In this, a privateer was supposed to be above being tried for piracy. Tell that to Cap'n Kidd. Most often, privateers were a higher class of criminal, though many turned plain pirate before all was said and done.
Quarter			Deriving from the idea of "shelter", quarter was given when mercy was offered by the pirates. To give no quarter was to indicate that none would be spared. Quarter was often the prize given to an honorable loser in a pirate fight. If enraged, however, a pirate would deprive the loser any such luxury. .
Sea Legs			After walking on a ship for long periods of time, sailors became accustomed to the rocking of the ship in the water. So, early in a voyage a sailor was said to be lacking his "sea legs" when the ship motion was still foreign to him. Often, after a cruise, a sailor would have trouble regaining his "land legs" and would swagger on land. .
Shiver me Timbers			This term was used to express shock or surprise. The idea of timbers shivering comes from the vibration set up in the mast (timbers) by either running aground or a solid hit from a larger gun. The suggestion is that something has shaken the speaker from a state of less awareness. .
Swing the Lead			The Lead was a weight at the bottom of a line that gave sailors a way to measure depth when near land. To Swing the Lead was considered a simple job, and thusly came to represent one who is avoiding work or taking the easy work over the hard. In today’s terms, one who swings the lead is a slacker. .
Take a Caulk			On deck of a ship, between planks, was a thick caulk of black tar and rope to keep water from between decks. This term came to mean to "take a nap" either because sailors who slept on deck ended up with black lines across their backs or simply because sailors laying down on deck were as horizontal as the caulk of the deck itself. .
To Go on Account			A pleasant term used by pirates to describe the act of turning pyrate. The basic idea was that a pirate was more "free lance" and thus was, more or less, going into business for himself. .
Walk the Plank			Perhaps more famous than historically practiced, walking the plank was the act of being forced off a ship by pirates (as punishment or torture) into the watery grave below. History suggests that this might have happened once that can be vaguely documented, but it is etched in the image of the pirates for its clearly dastardly content. .
Yardarm			The main arm across the mast which holds up the sail. The yardarm was another vulnerable target in combat, and it was also a favorite place from which to hang prisoners or enemies. Black Bart hung his governor of Martinique from his yardarm. .
Yellow Jack			Like any "jack" or flag, the yellow jack was used to indicate a particular disposition of a ship. In this case the yellow was to signify the yellow fever. A yellow flag flying meant that there was illness aboard. Often this was used to trick pirates away from potential targets.

 

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Now, if ye intends ta go on account, thar be a few phrases that no pyrate'd be complete without...

dotPyrate - A robber at sea. Any act of theft while on the oceans is pyracy in the most general sense.

dotPrivateer - a privateer is a sailor with a "letter of marque" (see below) from a governement. This letter "allows" the sailor to plunder any ship of a given enemy nation. Technically a privateer was a self employed soldier paid only by what he plundered from an enemy. In this, a privateer was supposed to be above being tried for pyracy. Tell that to Cap'n Kidd. Most often, privateers were a higher class of criminal, though many turned plain pyrate before all was said and done.

dotBuccaneer - originally a term for those privateers who fought against the Spanish, later a general term for pyrates of the atlantic, specifically the Caribbean. The buccaneers were first hunters of pigs and cattle on the island of Hispanola, but were driven off by the Spanish and turned to pyracy. Buccaneers were said to be heavy drinking, cruel pyrates.

dotCorsair - This term was used for Christian and Muslim privateers in the Mediterranean between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Barbary corsairs centered on North African states and were often "hired" by Muslim nations to attack Christian ships. The Christian Corsairs were known as the Maltese corsairs and they took their orders from the Knights of St. John to attack the Turks.

dotTo Go on Account - a pleasant term used by pyrates to describe the act of turning pyrate. The basic idea was that a pyrate was more "free lance" and thus was, more or less, going into business for himself.

dot"Avast Ye!" - a hailing phrase to indicate that the hailed must "stop" and give attention.

dotLandlubber - a term given to one fond of land as opposed to sea. The terms doesn't derive from "land lover" but rather from the root of "lubber" which means clumsy or uncoordinated. Thus, a landlubber is one who is awkward at sea for familiarity with the land. Of course, this terms was used to insult the abilities of one at sea.

dotDavy Jones's Locker - a fictional place at the bottom of the ocean. In short, a term meaning death. Davey Jones was said to sink every ship he ever over took, and thus, the watery grave that awaited all who were sunk by him was given his name. To die at sea is to go to "Davey Jones's Locker".

dotWalk the Plank - Perhaps more famous than historically practiced, walking the plank was the act of being forced off a ship by pyrates (as punishment or torture) into the watery grave below. History suggests that this might have happened once that can be vaguely documented, but it is etched in the image of the pyrates for its clearly dastardly content.

dotSwing the Lead - The Lead was a weight at the bottom of a line that gave sailors a way to measure depth when near land. To Swing the Lead was considered a simple job, and thusly came to represent one who is avoiding work or taking the easy work over the hard. In todays terms, one who swings the lead is a slacker.

dotKeel Haul - another term made famous by pyrates. This is the act of throwing a man overboard, tied to a rope that goes beneath the ship, and then dragging him from one side to the other and hauling him out. Besides the torment of being dragged under water, this would drag the victim across the barnacle studded ship's hull and cause great pain and injury. This was a serious punishment and not administered lightly.

dotSea Legs - after walking on a ship for long periods of time, sailors became accustomed to the rocking of the ship in the water. So, early in a voyage a sailor was said to be lacking his "sea legs" when the ship motion was still foreign to him. Often, after a cruise, a sailor would have trouble regaining his "land legs" and would swagger on land.

dotYellow Jack - like any "jack" or flag, the yellow jack was used to indicate a particular disposition of a ship. In this case the yellow was to signify the yellow fever. A yellow flag flying meant that there was illness aboard. Often this was used to trick pyrates away from potential targets.

dotTake a Caulk - on deck of a ship, between planks, was a thick caulk of black tar and rope to keep water from between decks. This term came to mean to "take a nap" either because sailors who slept on deck ended up with black lines across their backs or simply because sailors laying down on deck were as horizontal as the caulk of the deck itself.

dotShiver me Timbers - This term was used to express shock or surprise. The idea of timbers shivering comes from the vibration set up in the mast (timbers) by either running aground or a solid hit from a larger gun. The suggestion is that something has shaken the speaker from a state of less awareness.

dotLong Clothes - Long clothes were a style of clothing best suited to land. A pyrate, or any sailor, didn't have the luxury of wearing anything loose that might get in the way while climbing up riggings. Landsmen, by contrast, could adorn themselves with baggy pants, coats, and stockings.

dotBlack Spot - Tipping the black spot was a way pyrates gave a death threat. As in the Novel, Treasure Island, a paper was marked with a black smudge on one side and often a message on the other to make the threat specific.

dotBilge - The lowest part inside the ship, within the hull itself. If any place on the ship was going to be dank and musty, the bilge was such a place. It was the first place to show signs of leakage and was often considered the most filthy, deadspace of a ship. Hence, a "bilge rat" is a creature considered most lowly by a pyrate. Though, many a pyrate found himself eating those same rats to survive!

dotBowsprit - the furthest front of the ship is the bowsprit. It is usually used as a lead connection for a smaller navigational sail. It was from the bowsprit that Blackbeard's head was hung as a trophy.

dotBroadside - a general term for the vantage on another ship of absolute perpendicular to the direction it is going. To get along broadside a ship was to take it at a very vulnerable angle. This is of course, the largest dimention of a ship and is easyiest to attack with larger arms. A "Broadside" has come to indicate a hit with a cannon or similar attack right in the main part of the ship.

dotCareen - to careen a ship is to take it into shallower waters or out of the water altogether and to remove barnacles and pests from the bottom. Pests include mollusks (worms), shells, and plant growth. Often a pyrate needed to careen his ship to restore it to proper speed. Also, careening was dangerous to pyrates as it left the ship inoperable while the work was being done.

dotCome About - to bring the ship full way around in the wind. Used in general while sailing into the wind, but also used to indicate a swing back into the enemy in combat.

dotFo'c's'le - This is a term used for the Forcastle or frontmost part of the ship. Usually under the front deck and above the lower deck.

dotGunwalls - the "sides" of the top deck. These "walls" were the only thing keeping things on deck from sliding into the water. Of course, these railings and walls had openings for the heavy arms or guns.

dotJury Mast - a temporary or make-shift mast erected on a sea vessel after the mainmast has been destroyed. Often, in combat, the mast was the most damaged (providing the ship didn't sink). Without the mast, a ship was powerless, so a term grew out of the need to make masts to power damaged ships.

dotJolly Boat - a light boat carried at the stern of a larger sailing ship. This (probably) Danish Yawl (jol), proved better at high sea when a larger ship could harldy carry any sail.

dotLong Boat - the largest boat carried by another ship. This was used to move larger loads, often anchors, chains, or ropes. In the case of pyrates, the longboats were used to transport the bulk of heavier treasures.

dotQuarter - deriving from the idea of "shelter", quarter was given when mercy was offered by the pyrates. To give no quarter was to indicate that none would be spared. Quarter was often the prize given to an honourable loser in a pyrate fight. If enraged, however, a pyrate would deprive the loser any such luxury.

dotYardarm - the main arm across the mast which holds up the sail. The yardarm was another vulnerable target in combat, and it was also a favourite place from which to hang prisoners or enemies. Black Bart hung his governor of Martinique from his yardarm.

dotMizzen - a term meaning "middle" on a ship. The Mizzenmast was usually the largest and, perhaps, most important mast.

dotPoop Deck - the deck at the furthest back of a ship. Usually above the captain's quarters, the poopdeck was usually the highest deck of the ship.

dotLetter of Marque - a document given to a sailor (privateer) giving him amnesty from pyracy laws as long as the ships plundered were of an enemy nation. A large portion of the pyrates began as privateers, with this symbol of legitimacy. Still, the earnings of a privateer were significantly better than any given a soldier at sea in any Navy.